Mohamed Salah has been named the Football Writers Association’s Player of the Year.
Salah beat Manchester City counterpart Kevin de Bruyne by less than 20 votes – the organisation’s shortest winning margin for almost half a century.
The Egypt international becomes the 11th Liverpool player to receive the award, joining the likes of Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard.
Between them, Salah and De Bruyne accounted for 90 per cent of the overall FWA vote while Tottenham’s Harry Kane finished third in the rankings.
It marks an unprecedented season for the Reds’ leading scorer after also being crowned the PFA Player of the Year and African Player of the Year.
FWA chairman Patrick Barclay believes Salah’s exploits in last week’s Champions League semi-final with Roma helped tip the balance in his favour.
He said: “It’s been the tightest call since 1968/69, when there was a dead heat between Tony Book of Manchester City and Derby’s Dave Mackay.
“Right up to the last week or so we thought it might happen again, so strong was the support for Kevin de Bruyne.
“But Mo Salah’s relentless match-winning form, exemplified by his two great goals against Roma, seems to have swung the vote by a very narrow margin.
“What a race it has been between two players who, in a relatively short time, have reached genuine world class. But Mo Salah is the worthiest of winners.
“He is also the first African to receive the award and we congratulate him on a magnificent season.”
Salah will be presented with his FWA award at a gala event in London’s Landmark Hotel on May 10.